Thurcroft
New Orchard
In 1817 New Orchard Farm was occupied by Thomas Mottram and contained about 94 acres of land.
On 14 February, 1862, Harriet Drabwell of Bawtry, a widow, leased New Orchard to John Neep of Oldcoates, Nottinghamshire, for one year and then from year to year at a yearly rent of £110.
By 1851 Thomas had died and Ann Mottram (Nee Shaw) his widow, was running the farm with the help of a young labourer, Thomas Gillings from Carr and her son William.
By 1881 New Orchard was being farmed by the Howe family.
Some of the Mottram family were farming at Carr in 1881.
John Joseph Stray born about 1863 in Newark was running New Orchard Farm in 1940 with his wife Lucy. His father Thomas Stray was an Agricultural Labourer,employed, at Hill Top Farm, Dalton, in 1891.
In about 1940 Lucy Stray was killed by an intruder by the name of Jack Burrows, he had gone to the farm to sleep in the haystack, which he had done before to sleep off the effects of drink, Mrs Stray had tried to send him away, Jack Burrows pushed her, she died from injuries sustained during her fall. Apparently Jack Burrows was a hardworking quiet natured man, he was sentenced and sent to jail.